October 12, 2024: Boston-based lithium battery manufacturer, Pure Lithium, has announced its acquisition of Dimien, a producer of vanadium cathode materials.  The firm says this could be a major move towards revolutionizing the US EV battery market and reducing its reliance on China for critical battery materials.

Pure Lithium makes a next generation lithium battery (LVO) that replaces nickel and cobalt with vanadium enabling them to make the batteries from scratch going from brine to battery in less than 48 hours. This, the company says, makes it safer, cheaper and more efficient than traditional EV batteries.

The new deal means Pure Lithium will acquire Dimien’s intellectual property and manufacturing equipment, along with its team with the aim of  advancing commercial development of their pioneering LVO battery.

Last month the US government proposed a ban of Chinese software in vehicles and, earlier this year, raised tariffs on Chinese EVs. That said, the US still remains largely dependent on China for its EV batteries.

Dimien has been developing zeta vanadium oxide (ZVO), a cathode material that offers high energy density without the fire risks associated with other cathodes.

Brian Schultz, Dimien’s founder, will join Pure Lithium as VP of business development and technology.

Pure Lithium founder and CEO, Emilie Bodoin said: Schultz and his team have taken ZVO from a university science project to commercially relevant prototypes, which cycle beautifully against our lithium metal.
“We have a lithium metal electrode production technology that dramatically reduces costs, and together with our LVO battery technology, we will bring to market a next-generation battery that is superior to lithium-ion in performance and safety.

“Eliminating graphite, nickel and cobalt is disruptive for the industry, and will ensure US supply chain security dependence.”

Neither financial details nor the acquisition’s closing date were disclosed.